Land Use Agreement questions

Suggestions on questions to ask a land owner/landlord when signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

Number of Classrooms
Gym
Cleaning / Janitorial /Custodial services
Use of showers
Government furnished supplies vs contractor furnished
Phones
Copiers
Computers
Kitchen
Keys -Access
Security
Sleeping Areas
Noxious Weeds
Availability (ACA)
AC/Heater operational or available
Sprinkler system
Reduce / increase costs when camp changes (i.e. from Type I – II – III) (reduce number of classrooms needed, area needed, buildings needed, etc.)
Other prescheduled / concurrent uses of the facilities by owner
Parking
Athletic Fields

Facilities Usage (except for federally funded runways, towers (Check other FAA restrictions
Landing Fee
Fuel Fee (If Contractor provided)
Security
Flight Path
Hazmat/Spillage
Parking
Availability
Water/Electricity/Phones
Portable Retardant Bae
Hours of Operation
Access
Check with Air Ops for further concerns

Talk to owner if possible
Acknowledge possible legal issues (water dumping, food on grounds, drinking, etc)
Take lots of pictures (Put online so you can share with whoever comes after you.)
Can we use the utilities? (Electric / gas/ water/)
Can we use office EQ, like copiers/printers? Wifi?
What is the parking lot like? Any restrictions?
Are there fields that can be used?
Is the sprinkler system (internal/external) working?
Who has keys/access? What is the process for getting access?
Do we have kitchen access?
Can we get access to the janitorial stuff (or is there a contract in place to clean)?
Is there a lawn/grounds keeper on contract? How do we approach oil spills (cars) and weed pulling?
What are you hours of operation?
When was the last safety inspection?

Where does water flow? (for when it rains?) Is food/congregant settings anywhere near that point?
What is your De-contamination plan?
Is there room for a dumpster?
How many parking spots do you have?
Do you have segregated spots for all your “stations” (Supply, Food, Showers, Parking, Desk, Info, etc)?

Federal Government land/facilities run by concessionaire
Land/Facilities of other Federal agencies (would fall under Economy Act agreements)
Land/Facilities of state and local governments (usually cooperative agreement)
Non Wildland fire incidents, i.e. FEMA.
Direct fire suppression activity (fire line construction, back-burn, access to fire)
Federally funded runways and towers (county/state/local)

Loss of crop/pasture – how many seasons
Re-seeding / de-compaction requirements
Noxious Weeds Abatement and Survey
General clean-up (trash removal, final janitorial service, floor waxing, etc)
Re-sod of athletic fields
Reconditioning floors (of gyms, carpet replacement, etc)
Pumping of septic systems (feasible to use system, or rely solely on port-a-potties?)\
Mending fences damaged during incident

BEFORE NEGOTIATING RATE:
- Determine ownership of land / facilities
- Confirm owner’s agent if applicable
- Resources available to confirm ownership
  - City or County Tax Assessor’s Office
  - Courthouse
Private Campgrounds – what are average receipts / revenues for similar time period
Historical record of rates for use in local area – local rangers may be good source
Facilities – if facility is abandoned from normal use, consider revenue lost for the activities
Fairgrounds – were there any events cancelled or rescheduled to make them available?
Cost of relocating and feeding of stock
Are there vacant facilities held by other agencies that may be available?
Consider a not to exceed rate commensurate with property value
Sources of market research:
- banks
- real estate offices
- local employees
- local assessor offices
- local agency lands offices
- newspapers
- feed store bulletin boards
- documentation at local offices from previous incidents